from terror to peace

O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
or discipline me in your wrath.
Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.
My soul also is struck with terror,
while you, O LORD—how long?

Turn, O LORD, save my life;
deliver me for the sake of your steadfast love.
For in death there is no remembrance of you;
in Sheol who can give you praise?

I am weary with my moaning;
every night I flood my bed with tears;
I drench my couch with my weeping.
My eyes waste away because of grief;
they grow weak because of all my foes.

Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.
The LORD has heard my supplication;
the LORD accepts my prayer.
All my enemies shall be ashamed and struck with terror;
they shall turn back and in a moment be put to shame.

Psalm 6; NRSVue

There’s not a one of us who doesn’t like to feel well, and not a one of us who likes to feel bad. That however does not line up with the human predicament in this life. Yes, we have those feel-good experiences, but more often than not, they are too few and too far in between. Well, I’m sure I don’t speak for everyone, but I’m guessing I speak for the majority of us, and certainly for myself. We do cherish those time of refreshing rest and as our faith grows, probably the experience of such grows along with it. Yet when it comes right down to it, I often find that I’m needing to manage my emotions, keep them under my hat, to myself, shared many times with my wife, but in the discipline more and more towards the goal of keeping them more between myself and God, asking for prayer along the way when need be.

The psalmist is experiencing almost as it were, violent attacks inside if not out. Shaken with terror, languishing, bed no place of rest. Internal suffering due to external threatening circumstances. It seems they had flesh and blood enemies. That translates directly in our day for the many who suffer at the hand of authoritarian regimes which are a law to themselves. And even where I live in the United States, too many languish in places of little or no hope, victims themselves of an unjust system.  For a person like me who lives in privilege compared to most on the planet, the enemies cited here would be spiritual. Yes, I believe in a power of evil that would undo creation, in fact, as it were, make something quite the opposite of such, all in rebellion against God. One sees evidence of such in different reigns of terror, as well as devasting war and violence, right up to the present time. But if we have eyes to see, we’ll see this evil at work in far more subtle ways. One can go back to Jesus as portrayed in the four gospels, stay in that for a good length of time, and that will help one discern this power at work in supposedly good ways in the world at the expense of what is really good. Jesus as God coming to be and restore our full humanity, helps us simply discern this as humans and then act, something akin to “the good Samaritan.” Note too in the psalm that the terror the psalmist experiences is ultimately turned back on their enemies.

I’m glad for God’s faithfulness in helping us, just as the psalmist notes. There is hope or assurance that God has all things in hand, that God sees, that God understands, that God will act, in fact is acting. All a matter of faith, yes, but in a reality that not only includes all the hard stuff, but the great answer even now in this present existence, with the promise of what’s yet to come.

life is not for the faint of heart: the need for courage

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

When evildoers assail me
to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
they shall stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
yet I will be confident.

One thing I asked of the LORD;
this I seek:
to live in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the LORD,
and to inquire in his temple.

For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.

Now my head is lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
be gracious to me and answer me!
“Come,” my heart says, “seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, do I seek.
Do not hide your face from me.

Do not turn your servant away in anger,
you who have been my help.
Do not cast me off; do not forsake me,
O God of my salvation!
If my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will take me up.

Teach me your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path
because of my enemies.
Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries,
for false witnesses have risen against me,
and they are breathing out violence.

I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the LORD!

Psalm 27; NRSVue

Pressed all over the pages of Scripture, and evident in life is the basic need for courage. Life is not for the faint hearted.

The psalmist takes courage in God in the midst of dangers along with the difficulties, disappointments, and even disasters that life can bring. This is all good news. We can and must take courage in God in spite of things, not because of them. Our confidence should not be and ultimately is not in our circumstances. There’s not a one of us who likes difficulties. None of us sign up for that. On the other hand, simply to live as a human on this planet, in civilization as it is, in many places is to face severe challenge. Though people can live privileged lives beyond the imagination of most of us, so that they may be shielded from much of this, even they cannot escape death, nor unexpected trouble.

We have to move on, no matter what, look squarely on what is in our face, and in the midst of all of that, find our help in God. We do so as we can see from Psalm 27, as those entirely devoted to God, seeking God’s face. We do it in service of something much bigger than ourselves.

Therefore we’re to wait for God, be strong and take courage, “be stouthearted,” a nice rendering in the NABRE. Believing that we will indeed see God’s goodness in the land of the living, for the good of all.

an anxiety treatment towards prevention and cure

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7; NRSVue

If anyone gets to know me, or if you’ve been around this blog, it won’t be too long until you’ll find out that anxiety has been a major issue I’ve had to deal with in my life. Someone could say, “Well, you’re anxious due to issues, real concerns.” And yes, that’s right. I have in recent years coped with anxiety better, maybe much better than sometimes in the past. If one can find a healthy coping mechanism so to speak, that might give one a window or the space needed to learn to deal with anxiety in ways helpful to them, that seems to me all very well and good.

There are actually many places in Scripture to draw help from when thinking about, anticipating, or experiencing anxiety. The psalms are chalk full of expressions of anxiety mixed with expressions of faith, even if a faith expressed in cries of desperation. Also the stories in the Bible, and don’t ever leave the Old Testament behind. In light of God as revealed in Jesus, we’re not going to take a good number of the Old Testament stories as correlated one to one, totally prescriptive for us today. My “sling and stone” will always be metaphorical, never for an actual flesh and blood enemy.

If there’s one spot I land on or return to again and again when dealing with anxiety, it’s Paul’s words here in Philippians. It is good, even important to read everything in context. Clicking the link above will put one into the section of Scripture, these words on anxiety are found. And better yet, read the entire book of Philippians, a relatively short read. We need less “precious promise” books and more reading of Scripture. Often the promises are taken out of context and more or less misapplied. I am not against such books myself. All I’m saying is that nothing replaces reading and studying and meditating on Scripture as a whole.

Now to Paul’s instruction for us. It seems odd, really impossible to not be anxious about anything. That depends precisely on what is meant, but we do well to do exactly as told here. When we’re considering anything which we know might take us down the path of anxiety, we pray to God with thanksgiving, letting God know all of our concerns, asking God for good answers as best we understand that. Then comes the promise that we’ll be living in God’s peace. Remember, that peace does not depend on circumstances. If it did, none of us would ever have it.

One last thought. We can read and consider this passage from a position of privilege, never encountering the dangers and ills that daily beset billions on our planet. That doesn’t mean this passage doesn’t apply to us, but it does mean that we will do well to take steps even towards what might well make us anxious, step out of our comfort zones, enter somehow into the suffering and world of others. Any number of ways to do that, through giving what resources we have, our time, ourselves, in ways that are healthy for us, but also self-sacrificial in love, the love of God in Jesus.

All the while stepping towards and being immersed in God’s peace in Jesus.

don’t let up on prayer

pray without ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:17; NRSVue

Prayer is an act of faith. Faith is not only a disposition, but an act (Hebrews 11) which goes on in the face of opposition and in spite of so many things. Prayer like faith is realistic. It doesn’t pretend that serious, even threatening problems don’t exist. But it brings those problems to God and acts, regardless.

If there’s one thing we will know living in this world, there are always huge issues that need addressed. Beginning in our personal lives; the lives of our loved ones and families; in our communities in general and in Christ; in local, state, national and international politics; everywhere.

Paul’s call for the church to pray without ceasing is a call for communities of faith as well as each of us individually to make prayer a priority of practice in faith. Believing that God is present, even if the answer neither seems forthcoming, or is all but lost to us. In a way, the first step and action of faith, which will lead to God’s help, if we don’t give up.

read with caution

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Hebrews 1:1-4; NRSVue

The Bible is a dangerous book. Christians, even churches, and whole denominations and traditions have justified all kinds of things, we might say by misusing and misreading it. But for one reason or another, their theology was lacking. One example I don’t even want to share here, but it illustrates my point. There was a person in charge of me when I worked for a Christian ministry who suggested that the US should bomb a particular nation based on his reading of Joshua. In no way, shape or form did his thought represent what that good ministry thinks, quite the opposite. But if anyone reads through the entire Bible, you’ll see what I mean. The Bible is indeed a dangerous book.

In various Jewish tradition, Scripture is read discerningly and humanely. God delivers God’s people in the exodus and sets up laws for them which are humane for all, other laws quite beyond the pale of that. While explanations might be given for the brutal, unsparing sentences of stoning in the Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament, it does help to read the entire Old Testament through. Even then, frankly, there’s still a sort of violence that is latent in the text and story, never beyond the possibility of appearing in the name of God. There were then and are now Jewish traditions which mitigate the harshness in the text, finding what might be called more of the humane good. Some Jews and Christians will write that off as being unfaithful to Scripture, to God’s Word, to God. Most Christians would not be explicit, but when it comes right down to it, they are open to accepting violence if not explicitly condoning it.

When Jesus appears we find something quite new, even a radical newness which nevertheless is steeped in the old, a fulfillment of it which given what preceded it (consider the Apocryphal, Deuterocanonical books, as well) is easily a head scratcher since at points it seems to be contradictory and actually is. The heart and soul, spirit of it arguably, and I would say definitely is not. Love for God means love for one’s neighbor, spelling what turns out to be the goal of all Scripture.

Jesus has been aptly called God’s final word. God is seen in Jesus who is indelibly in his nature and life completely like God, so much so that indeed even in Jesus’s humanity, he is God.

Before we as Christians can interpret the meaning of any Scripture passage for our time, we need to run it through God’s word in Jesus. When we do that, we’ll see right away that there are a host of things which not only are not applicable for our time but are actually contradictory to it. One example: the famous Old Testament prophets Elijah and Elisha, fire out of heaven to destroy people, a bear to maul youths mocking the prophet. But Jesus roundly rebukes two of his disciples for suggesting that fire should be called down from heaven to destroy a Samaritan town which refused to receive him. Jesus told them that they didn’t know what spirit they were, since he had come not to destroy people’s lives, but to save them.

Read all of Scripture with profit. But read it discerningly. Each of us need to practice that, but it is best done together in community.

marks of authoritarianism, marks of a “cult”

A dispute also arose among them as to which one of them was to be regarded as the greatest. But he said to them, “The kings of the gentiles lord it over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather, the greatest among you must become like the youngest and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

“You are those who have stood by me in my trials, and I confer on you, just as my Father has conferred on me, a kingdom, so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Luke 22:24-30; NRSVue

Lately I’ve been looking at the critiques leveled at Bill Gothard and the organization connected to him. I remember just how mainstream within evangelical circles especially this once was. I can’t help but believe that there’s a tendency within Christian evangelicalism to succumb to authoritarianism which at least nine times out of ten becomes cultic if not what amounts to a full-blown cult which sadly ended up being the case with Bill Gothard.

There is almost always some authoritarian figure everyone looks up to, even reveres, and follows to a tee, maybe at first out of admiration, but sooner or later without fail, fear will be a factor as well. Fear that they somehow might betray the great cause, even fear of eternal hell fire. Notice how central, how front and center the “pastor” is in evangelical churches. And by the way, always male, or if not, certainly an exception to that absolute rule. Oftentimes any “deacons” or “elders,” again all males, are simply yes-men to the leader. Whatever he says goes. There may be exceptions, though they will be exceptions. I’m thinking of an elder, again men only run church. Even then, the pastor is likely the one to have the most influence. Notice that in this model the thoughts of the congregation are at least not present. A wise pastor and board will run everything past the congregation and take that in careful consideration. But the idea of what seems to be best to the entire church is at least in question with this model.

Note how people who are part of such churches are open to authoritarianism. The priesthood of all believers is set on the side. After all, it’s the pastor who knows it all. “We know very little or nothing in comparison to him.” My suggestion here is that such a model lends itself to an opening for authoritarianism and what is nothing less than a cultic kind of atmosphere, or a full blow cult.

I should define cult. As that word is popularly understood today, I’m talking about a group which considers itself to be exclusive in some way. It all depends on what the exclusivity is and what is involved in that as to whether or not it’s innocent and okay, or not. For example to be in a group like the Boy Scouts you’ll have to submit to a certain code and rule. I realize even that example is controversial nowadays, but I consider such organizations, as long as they stick to a purpose that’s for the betterment of its members, okay. It’s when you get into the idea that it’s this way or the highway for everyone, that you get into trouble.

Democracy is thrown out the window in this model. Did it matter what members of Bill Gothard’s organization thought? Could they question his questionable (at best) teaching? Absolutely not! In the chain of command no less, umbrella authority which he taught and I presume still teaches, God/Christ is at the top, Bill is next, the husband, father, yes the male is next, the wife, daughter, female is definitely under him, the children next, but actually for all practical purposes they’re under the male. But remember in that scheme that one is under Christ only by submitting themselves to Bill Gothard’s teaching. One might quibble with this, but for all practical purposes, it’s spot on. To be in that group you had to submit to Bill’s teaching, to the rules, to everything. Your life essentially was controlled.

We look at the mess today in the United States. Evangelicals are more or less used to this, they even feel at home in it and know nothing else. Should it surprise anyone that they not only are open to authoritarianism, but even embrace it? Should it surprise anyone that they oppose democracy and are open to the idea of either getting rid of it, or at least downgrading it? Of course not. This is nothing new. The John Birch Society many decades ago advocated the same.

When Jesus was teaching the above to his disciples, it was definitely not safe to abandon the chain of command one was in. But Jesus brought an entirely different way, a way which challenged the status quo and put it on notice that its days ultimately are numbered. There is only one Lord: Jesus. The means is the way of the cross in God’s love. The end is the love of God changing people through and through in the true love of neighbor. Anything apart from that was not to be so among the believers, Jesus’s followers. But alas, what we see today! And when the end justifies the means, one can be certain that the end itself will become sullied, or any good end all but lost in that process.

But our way must be different. The way of servant love to each other, servant love to all. As we submit ourselves to one another in the love of God in Jesus, our one and only head being Christ himself.

peace in the midst of chaos

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of the city; it shall not be moved;
God will help it when the morning dawns.
The nations are in an uproar; the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice; the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Come, behold the works of the LORD;
see what desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations;
I am exalted in the earth.”
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Psalm 46; NRSVue

Often churches or whatnot are preaching to the choir, people more or less on board with what they’re going to hear. In my case, I write a good number of these posts preaching to myself, this post squarely being one such today. I’m sure there are others who struggle similarly.

Psalm 46 speaks about peace in the midst of chaos, God’s peace in the midst of human chaos. No one has to guess what I’m talking about. Most of history and that includes even the history of the United States has had its share of chaos as in disorder, division, mayhem, even threats and violence. Although the US has been a nation of privilege for most whites, that has not come without a steep price in more ways than one. And now in our current time, it seems like we’re on the edge of society becoming unhinged.

As one person pointed out to me, we can fear the loss of the privilege in which we live, yes, true. But also the danger in which marginalized people like immigrants, people of color, people of other cultures and religions, today- transgenders or others of what is now called the queer community (LGBT), even those who might disagree politically. We live in a dangerous, fraught time in which it seems like the fabric of society is coming apart. What are God’s people to do during such times?

“Be still and know that [God is] God” is probably more addressed to those wreaking havoc and violence on the earth (see CEB translation in the link above) than to the faithful. But considering the beginning of the psalm, it definitely not only refers to peace in the midst of chaos but also speaks peace to God’s people and ultimately to the world. Yes, “this too shall pass,” but right now we live in the midst of it. “Be still” in faith is a good position for us to take, in the faith that God is at work in the mess, maybe even through the mess for good. That is the confidence I have to take out of that. God is our refuge, strength and help and all will at last be well come what may.

how are we victorious?

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will affliction or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
    we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than victorious through him who loved us.

Romans 8:35-37; NRSVue

The context of Paul’s words quoted above is about living in danger and weakness. And strictly speaking, it is addressed to people together. The point is that in everything, no matter what, we are more than victorious through him who loved us. Our victory is in and of Christ. And thinking even this small portion through a bit, it’s a victory that is not on our terms, but on Christ’s, in the way of Christ. The way of being loved and loving, yes even our enemies. That is how we’re victorious even in this present life.

don’t lose your nerve

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Luke 18:1-8

There are so many reasons in this life that one might lose their nerve so to speak and become unsettled, unhinged. There’s the politics along with the culture war and all the dangers that come with that. There are the issues which are dividing families, friends and churches. The real world fallout which accompanies all of this. And you have the normal problems to look after. If there isn’t one problem, there’s another, likely a few others. Family, work, house, whatever.

In and through the midst of everything, our Lord encourages us not to lose heart, but pray. I find it easy myself to fall into something other than faith and when doing so I find that prayer seems irrelevant, beside the point, even though I know better. But at that point I’ll be flailing away trying to come up with good answers and find peace. And it is important that we try to understand issues as well as where people on every side are coming from. All of that is good, but we have to be careful not to forget just where our faith is and proceed from that.

It’s not in human institutions and humans, even while we hope and pray for needed change and good to come. But in all of that we have to remember that our faith can be in none such. Only in God. Only in God. Yes, only in God. This faith is not just an individual venture, but even more, together as church. We are to be people of faith demonstrated in prayers which Jesus tells us here are to be done always.

Something I have to keep reminding myself of and especially at certain times, again and again.

take what joy you can, but live in reality

It is better to go to the house of mourning
than to go to the house of feasting,
for this is the end of everyone,
and the living will lay it to heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter,
for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4; NRSVue

The title for Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 in the NRSVue is “A Disillusioned View of Life.” Probably Qoheleth, translated “the Teacher” is off the mark in at least some of what he (or she) is saying. We can say it’s all a matter of perspective. From their point of view, from where they were looking, they were telling it like it is, and trying to express wisdom. And there definitely is a measure of profound wisdom (see toward the end of Ecclesiastes).

I find the part quoted above most helpful for myself. Life “under the sun” and in seeking to follow Jesus and just considering our own weaknesses and limitations along with difficulties we face is indeed at least full of challenge. Life is hardly foolproof. We make many mistakes and hopefully keep learning along the way. If we expect a bed of roses here, we might as well forget that. Instead we’ll find some good, some joy, but much sorrow and possible hardship, even some possible danger along the way.

Paradoxically if we can just accept this, and choose to comfortably live in it or settle in it, then we can find not only a bit of joy here and there, but really joy even in the midst of sorrow. The Spirit helps us, but only as we accept things as they are.

“The Teacher” in Ecclesiastes is trying to help people steer a good course or if the title is apt, make the best of a bad situation. Yes, much is pretty dour in this book. Maybe that’s in part why I’ve been drawn to it over the years, because it does seem to line up with life in the real world, or at least much of my experience of it.

Our hope and expectation is in God through Christ, not in the circumstances of life itself. We receive all that God gives, and can enjoy some of that. But ultimately that we might live for others, even as Christ is teaching us by the Spirit together. Enjoying life even as “the Teacher” tells us in Ecclesiastes, but with our feet on the ground not in some make believe place, but in the real world where we all live. And especially with a heart and ear turned toward suffering, that we might help others. In and through Jesus.